fire on the mountain
I’m writing about aging with a heated pillow on my neck from a pinched nerve that I’ve been dealing with for the past few weeks. It seems to have occurred not while I was training at the gym (I don’t really do that) but while I was sleeping. That’s right. Sleeping is risky behavior these days.
When we were visiting our son at college last weekend, I walked around with a tote bag filled with Bio-freeze and Advil. It was like the universe was screaming at me, you are not one of them, you are the parent, you are not young! Okay, okay I hear you, I will not get back on the dance floor, but the band is so good and they’re playing Fire on the Mountain.
In other news, my daughter left Taco Bell on the floor of her bedroom this weekend and our dog, Pumpkin ate it. How did we put it all together? The naughty dickens was upstairs being mysteriously quiet and then paraded downstairs with cheese all over her snout.
Things go south sometimes. Like my breasts.
Many of my friends and maybe even me later this summer are celebrating a “big birthday” this year. I’m good with it, really, I am, I swear!
But because of this and maybe also because the spectacularly ridiculous new reality show, Age of Attraction, I’ve been waxing poetic about the topic. I’ll ask for forgiveness in advance if my missives are mostly about getting “older” these days. And also, I realize some people may experience these benefits way before midlife because they are awake and enlightened and well maybe some never do and that’s okay too. Either way, I present to you my incomplete and running list!
Here are some things I think are great about being “older.”
Not having to take toddlers to the indoor playground at the mall. (I know, I know those are sweet times, but indoor play spaces are loud and make me feel like I’m in a burning hellscape of germs, I’m sorry.)
Feeling clearer and more empowered to say no to what sucks the life out of our precious souls and yes to what illuminates it.
With age comes perspective, and with perspective comes the realization that we are lucky to be here. We can deal with the other stuff.
Realizing that we’ve always been enough.
That most people don’t have a clue as to what they’re doing and are winging it so we can wing it too.
Because we’ve been on this planet for some time now, we’ve experienced loss and heartbreak. Knowing that joy lives next to pain, we rally to laugh, dance, and celebrate because joy sustains us.
We understand the importance of keeping our peace. We let go of the need to be right or have our opinion understood because we love who we are and make our peace a priority.
Death isn’t the worst thing, not living life while we’re here, is.
Not worrying so much (also referred to as not giving a f*ck) as to what others think about how we look, dress, act, etc.
The awe and deep appreciation we feel at the infinite number of small, beautiful miracles that await us every day.
I share this with reverence in my heart for friends and family that died way too young. I feel their presence often. May the way we live keep showing them just how loved they still are, and how often we think of them (every living, breathing moment) and how grateful we are for their continued guidance, support, and infinite love.
Now go out there and have some fun and if you’re my age or older, be careful when you sleep. By the way, I switched to one of those memory foam pillows and while it looks like I’m in a straitjacket, I’m feeling better!